Last Saturday a group of Wooded Island birders attended the 14th Annual Gull Frolic at the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club. Seven species of winter gulls made an appearance. The cold and wind made trips outside the glassed confines of the Club very brief. Ted Floyd, a Colorado resident, and editor of the American Birding Association’s Birding Magazine, was the guest speaker. He demonstrated that there are about 240 varying plumages for the Herring Gull. Ted shared a quote from gull expert Steven Howells, who classified birders into two groups: those who find it difficult to identify gulls and then there are the liars.

Walking was a challenge this morning on the hard ice and crunchy snow, especially through Bobolink Meadow. The work crews were very busy on Wooded Island, which could be called, “Wood Pile Island.” Attached are some photos.

The really Big News is that Randy and Eric relocated a Bohemian Waxwing at the north end of Bobolink Meadow and on Heron Island. It was first reported on eBird on February 15th, but went under the radar of the birding community. We all had great looks at this rare bird for Illinois. It must have missed the stop in Duluth. Once a post was made on IBET, birders beganarriving on their pilgrimage to Jackson Park, and all were able to relocate the waxwing. Attached is a photo taken by Eric Ginsburg with his iPhone through a scope. Turned out to be a great photo!

We then drove to the 66th St. Outer Harbor in hopes of finding a Long-tailed Duck that was spotted by Jane Masterson earlier in the morning. No luck for us in finding this bird. As a consolation the First CycleGreat Black-backed Gull was in the Harbor, but flew off to the Lake. And, sixteen White-winged Scoters were gathered together in a group off the south end of the 63rd St. Pier. The number later was increased to nineteen! Three adult males, showing its classic white teardrop facial marking were among the group.

After birding Jackson Park, Randy S., Karin C., Karin D, and I headed to the Sunrise Caféon 119th St. in Whiting, IN. The food is great, plentiful and the price very reasonable, thanks in part to the Indiana tax rate.

The Whiting beach and lakefront was solidly iced in. The BP beach, where their filtered water empties into the Lake, was also covered in ice. We did see at least four American Black Ducks and a few Great Black-backed Gulls.

We traveled to Williams Powers Conservation Area at Wolf Lake, with hopes of seeing the resident Snowy Owl and another rare bird, a Hoary Redpoll. No luck finding either species. We were rewarded with great views of an adult Red-shouldered Hawk on the south end of State Line Road, on the Indiana side. Two American Kestrels were seen, one on the Indiana side and the other on the Illinois side of State Line Road.

Not much at 126th Marsh, except for close views of several Common Mergansers, Mallards and Herring Gulls.

At the Land O’Lakes landfill, located on the northeast area at 122nd and Stony Island, there were two, possiblythree, Red-tailed Hawks successfully hunting. The hawks preferred the company of the six deer on the top of the landfill to that of the two coyotes. All mammals looked to be very well fed.

Bohemian Waxwing 1 Originally found by Brandon Berger on 2/15/15. Very large, plump waxwing, gray belly, two white patches on wings, red undertail coverts. Seen on Heron Island and the trees around the Music Court Bridge and the woods by the meadow. See photo at the end of the report.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. Come to Darrow Bridge to meet with the other birders.

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation but there are openings at each end that allows for foot traffic. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe. Birders continue to meet on Darrow Bridge at the start times, even during the multi-year restoration of Wooded Island and other areas within Jackson Park.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, and at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

Birders gather on Darrow Bridge, which is located south of the Museum of Science and Industry.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end near Darrow Bridge.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56th Street.